The United States has officially designated Taliban-ruled Afghanistan as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention.” The decision was announced by Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State. The move highlights growing tension between Washington and Kabul over the detention of American citizens.
Rubio said the US government is deeply concerned about the safety of Americans in Afghanistan. He warned that the Taliban’s actions could lead to new restrictions on US travel to the country. The announcement signals a tougher stance by Washington toward the Taliban leadership.
The designation is part of a policy framework introduced under an executive order signed by former US President Donald Trump. The order allows the US government to formally accuse countries of detaining American citizens unjustly.
Washington Demands Release of Detained Americans
In his statement, Rubio urged the Taliban authorities to release all detained American citizens immediately. He specifically mentioned two Americans believed to be held in Afghanistan: Mahmood Habibi and Dennis Coyle.
Rubio strongly criticized the Taliban’s detention practices. He said the group continues to use tactics that resemble kidnapping. According to him, individuals are sometimes held to demand ransom or political concessions.
“The Taliban continues to use terrorist tactics,” Rubio said. He described the detentions as unacceptable and said they must end immediately.
The US government believes Americans face a serious risk of unjust detention in Afghanistan. Rubio said this situation makes travel to the country unsafe for US citizens.
If Kabul does not respond positively, the United States may restrict the use of US passports for travel to Afghanistan. This step would effectively prevent American citizens from visiting the country.
Currently, such a restriction exists only for North Korea. The policy could therefore place Afghanistan in a similar category for travel limitations.
Search for Missing American Author
The US government is also seeking information about the remains of American author Paul Overby. Overby disappeared in 2014 near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Sources familiar with the matter say Washington has asked the Taliban to help locate his remains. The case remains unresolved more than a decade after his disappearance.
Officials say the US wants closure for Overby’s family. The request is part of broader demands made to the Taliban leadership.
Reuters reported that Afghan officials were not immediately available for comment on the new US designation. The Taliban government has previously denied detaining Mahmood Habibi.
Habibi once served as the head of Afghanistan’s civil aviation authority before the Taliban returned to power. His case has become a major concern for US officials.
Similar Action Taken Against Iran
This is not the first time Rubio has used the wrongful detention designation. On February 27, he applied the same label to Iran.
Iran became the first country to receive the designation under the executive order. Rubio warned at the time that the US might also restrict travel to Iran because of detained Americans.
However, no passport restrictions have yet been imposed on Iran. The situation remains under review by US officials.
The decision to designate Afghanistan follows reports that Washington had been considering the move. Earlier on Monday, CBS News reported that the US government was evaluating whether to classify Afghanistan as a state sponsor of wrongful detention.
The new designation increases diplomatic pressure on the Taliban. It also signals that the US may adopt stricter policies if Americans continue to be detained in the country.
